NBA legend Charles Barkley has made it clear he wants no part of the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
In an unapologetic conversation with OutKick’s Dan Dakich, Barkley said he’s finished discussing the issue because there’s simply nothing left to argue.
“Men should not play sports against women,” Barkley said flatly. “I’m not gonna get into all the bulls**t that’s going on out here in the world today.”
The comment came during a segment on Dakich’s Outkick show Don’t @ Me, as the two discussed an alleged Nike-funded study exploring how puberty blockers could reduce male athletic performance to make competition with women more “fair.”
Charles Barkley tells @dandakich anyone arguing men should be able to play women’s sports is stupid. Succinct, accurate: pic.twitter.com/ky6WoHpVo2
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 8, 2025
The research gained attention after being mentioned in a New York Times article defending Blaire Fleming, a biologically male San Jose State University volleyball player who reportedly dominated women’s NCAA play in 2024.
When Dakich asked if Barkley had seen the report, Barkley didn’t need to. “I have not, but I’m a make this very simple for you, Dan. Men should not play sports against women,” he said.
Barkley made it clear he supports gay and transgender people, opposes discrimination, and stands for equality, but drew a line on the matter of sports.
“Men should not play sports against women. If anybody thinks that, I think they’re stupid,” he told Dakich.
“If anybody have a problem with that, they gonna have to get over it, because I’m not gonna change,” he added. “I’m not gonna change. I just think it’s wrong, period.”
Barkley’s remarks follow a growing trend of high-profile incidents and hearings drawing national attention to the impact of male athletes competing in women’s sports divisions.
At the recent U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, a biologically male athlete identifying as female, Ana Caldas, competed in the 45-49 age group of the women’s division.
🚨A male swimmer dominated the women’s 45-49 category at the U.S. Masters Swimming National Championship last week, taking first place in multiple events.
Hugo “Ana” Caldas holds several women’s titles and swimming records.https://t.co/5l99fCMBvD
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) April 28, 2025
Caldas secured first place in five events: the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, the 100-yard individual medley, and the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, swimming for 02 Performance Aquatics.
On Wednesday, Stephanie Turner and Payton McNabb, two female athletes that made headlines after competing against biological males, shared their experiences before Congress at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee hearing, “Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
Turner drew national attention in April when she refused to compete against a transgender opponent in a fencing match, resulting in punishment from USA Fencing.
McNabb sustained permanent brain injuries in high school after being struck in the head by a spike from a trans-identifying male opponent during a volleyball game.
TESTIMONY FROM @paytonmcnabb_: “It is completely aggravating because the injury I suffered was 100% avoidable—if only my rights as a female athlete had been more important than a male’s feelings.” pic.twitter.com/qAOwJuDs1f
— Independent Women's Forum (@IWF) May 7, 2025
Despite the hearing being focused on the protection of female athletes, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, used her time to launch an off-topic political monologue aimed at President Donald Trump.
According to Turner, Crockett initially praised the two women, saying, “You’re both very courageous. You’re very courageous being here, and I want to say thank you for all of this.”
But Turner wasn’t convinced by the gesture. “I said, ‘Payton and I both took time out of our day to be there, and I find it very disrespectful that you would co-opt this hearing that is about me and Payton and make it about your own politics.’”
Crockett, known for opposing GOP efforts to safeguard women’s sports from male competition, used part of her speech to play a game she called “Trump or Trans.”
Deranged Jasmine Crockett asks hearing witness to respond to a series of questions: "Trump or trans?” — then goes on a tirade about the military parade and Trump golfing.
This is the Democrat party. pic.twitter.com/tHgg0OH3wd
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 7, 2025
She asked another witness to attribute blame for a variety of issues, ranging from inflation to constitutional violations, to either President Trump or transgender individuals. The answer given each time was “Trump.”
McNabb didn’t buy the representative’s attempt to bridge the divide afterward. “I think she was lying,” she said.
“I did not believe one word she said, because literally the theatrics, and just how she acted literally the whole time and then trying to come over and whisper and be nice girl to us,” the former student athlete continued.
“I don’t know what happened, it was like a whole other person than what we all saw 10 seconds before she got over there.”
Back on Don’t @ Me, Barkley said the whole debate shouldn’t even be happening. “I’m never gonna think it’s all right for men to play sports against women. I don’t even think that’s controversial,” he told Dakich.
“That’s the thing that’s funny. When you see these debates on television, like, yeah. Men shouldn’t play sports against women. I’m done,” he continued.
“I don’t wanna hear you try to explain it to me. No. No. No. No. No, I don’t wanna hear it. I’m not gonna argue with you. Men shouldn’t play sports against women.”